Strategic leadership in an era of change: challenges and advances of the PAIGH Geography Commission, 2014-2021

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Published: Oct 15, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35424/regeo.163.2021.1058
Keywords:
challenges, strategy, partnerships, Geography, PAIGH

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Patricia Solis
Arizona State University
Jean Parcher Wintemute
Geographer, Emeritus, United States Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, United States of America

Abstract

This article outlines the strategic vision of the leadership of the Geography Commission of the PanAmerican Institute for Geography and History over the past eight years, co-authored by the Presidents and Vice Presidents 2014-2017 and 2018-2021, respectively. Documenting the major strategies taken by and through this leadership team during a context of profound change, the article summarizes a rationale and main domains of action across the commission, featuring a course-level detail of the committees and working groups, and joint initiatives. The article acknowledges the highly participatory efforts of member state commissions, committees, participants, and responsible parties for technical assistance projects by pointing out some of the highlighted achievements and unrealized objectives alike. The authors also aim to inform and inspire future leadership throughout PAIGH to build upon and improve this trajectory in strategic ways.

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How to Cite
Solis, P., & Parcher Wintemute, J. (2021). Strategic leadership in an era of change: challenges and advances of the PAIGH Geography Commission, 2014-2021. Revista Geográfica, (163), 11–32. https://doi.org/10.35424/regeo.163.2021.1058
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Issue
No. 163 (2021): Revista Geográfica
Section
Editorial
Author Biographies

Patricia Solis, Arizona State University

Patricia Solís, PhD, is President of the Geography Commission of the Organization of American States PanAmerican Institute of Geography and History. She is co-founder and director of YouthMappers, a consortium of student-led humanitarian mapping chapters on 269 university campuses in 60 countries. The program creates and uses open, volunteered spatial data in collaboration with USAID, including projects to combat malaria in Africa, flooding in East Asia, hurricanes and earthquakes in Latin America and the Caribbean, rural electrification in West Africa and heat related deaths in Arizona. Solís is Executive Director of the Knowledge Exchange for Resilience at Arizona State University, an interdisciplinary effort to link multi-sector community needs with research innovations around resilience to economic shocks, social disruption, and environmental threats. She is an Associate Research Professor in the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning at ASU. Her disciplinary expertise centers on the application of participatory geospatial technologies for humanitarian, environment and development needs.

Jean Parcher Wintemute, Geographer, Emeritus, United States Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, United States of America

Jean Parcher Wintemute is currently the Vice President of the Geography Commission of the Pan American Institute of Geography and History (PAIGH).  Ms. Parcher has had a long career with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and with the Department of the Interior (DOI). Recently with her work with the DOI, she was in charge of the management of the "Land Cover for Climate" project (LC4Climate). This project aims to improve the capacity of developing countries to generate and / or update ground observation techniques to obtain information on changes in land use and land cover. The work focused on the countries of Africa and Southwest Asia. Previously, Ms. Parcher held the position of International Program Manager of the USGS Remote Sensing program including the USGS Landsat satellite system. She has held other positions in the USGS, including science lead for the US-Mexico Border Environmental and Health Initiative; and geospatial liaison between the federal, state and Texas communities for geospatial data. She holds a Master's Degree in Geography from the University of Texas and was a volunteer for the United States Peace Corps in Costa Rica, working with the Bribri indigenous people.

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